Few data is available about the prevalence and the causative microorganisms of onychomycosis in the elderly. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of onychomycosis in the elderly people living in the nursing homes and to determine the responsible fungal agents.

Elderly people living in nursing homes were examined for onychomycosis. Nails with color and structure changes were suspected of onychomycosis. Scraping materials were evaluated by direct KOH examination and fungal cultures were performed.

Totally, 214 elderly persons (59 female, 155 male) from nursing homes were studied. Onychomycosis was suspected clinically in 102 cases and scraping materials were obtained from 122 nails. Clinical types of onyhomycosis were distal subungual in 87, proximal subungual in 21 and white superficial in 14 cases. Fungal spores were seen in 81 (37.8%) samples (3 hand nails, 78 toenails) with direct KOH examination and fungal culture was positive in 54 (25.2%) (3 hand nails, 51 toenails) of them. Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently isolated fungus (75.9%) followed by Candida glabrata (12.9%).

In the elderly, onychomycosis is more common than the general population. However causative fungi are similar; dermatophytes are the most common causative organisms followed by yeasts.